Another metal halide lighting thread

[Richard_Dicosimo]

is there a difference between a 250 watt ballast from a grow shop vs a 250 watt ballast from an aquarium light manufacturer? other then price that is?

Richard

[Invigor]

they'll all be one of the 3: m58, m138, or m80 ballast - from either place...it's probably more common to find the m80 in an aquarium shop though. not sure if different manufactures of m58/m138 would have a price difference.

[StirCrazy]

is there a difference between a 250 watt ballast from a grow shop vs a 250 watt ballast from an aquarium light manufacturer? other then price that is?

Richard

you won't find a M80, and the grow shop will generally be cheaper on the other ones. Also the grow shop's casings won't look as nice as the Aquarium casings.

Steve

[TheReefGeek]

The m58 is a plain magnetic ballast.
The m138 is a pulse start ballast.
The m80 is an HQI ballast

So you have to be carefull to match the ballast to the bulb you want to run, then it doesn't matter where you buy the ballast from, all that will change is the encloser it comes with, if any. If you want a nice enclosure, then buy something like PFO, or you can go to the grow shop for the same thing but not as nice of a package, or you can go to a lighting shop and get the pieces, and wire it yourself.

[Invigor]

all 3 are magnetic :mrgreen: just incase it comes up, the plain magnetic ballasts are also called probe start ballasts.

go for the m80, you will not be disappointed. costs a little more, but runs any bulb you want ;)

[TheReefGeek]

yes, probe! Couldn't remember the name. And those are what I run, should have remembered. :redface:

[Richard_Dicosimo]

sweet thanks

[StirCrazy]

The m58 is a plain Probe start
The m138 is a pulse start ballast.
The m80 is an HQI ballast (pluse start also)

the 138 or M80 will run any MH 250 watt bulb out there with good results. if you go with a 138 you will get longer bulb life from the pulse start which is kinder to the bulb than a probe start.
A M80 will give you the same benifit as the 138 but will also give you increased output as it is running the german design bulbs "properly" you are still pushing the same wattage give or take, but you are getting from different voltage and current combanations that you would in a M58 or 138. the M80 is actualy designed to replicate to out put of the German reactor style ballast but on 120V power instead of the 220V or what ever it is in Europ. Sence the bulbs we use in this hobbie are almost all german or knock offs of german bulbs they run proper on the M80 ballast but it is a little more pricy than a 138 which is more pricy than a 58.

Steve